Ornamental device



ug. l5, 1967 G. BRAxToN 3,335,509

ORNAMENTAL DEVICE Filed April 2e, 1965 qu l \f///////: 33

FIGIO 40 FIG. l2

INVENTOR GEORGE BRAXTON BY MMM M ATTORNEYS United States Patent O T 3,335,509 ORNAMENTAL DEVICE George Braxton, 11358 Asbury Park, Detroit, Mich. 48227 Filed Apr. 28, 1965, Ser. No. 451,476 Claims. (Cl. l0-10) This invention relates to ornamental devices or items of jewelry for mounting names, initials, or other identification of the user or wearer.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an ornamental device which can normally be worn on the person or mounted upon a suitable support and provides means for supporting a block or a series of blocks bearing information, such as initials or a name, together with means for removably mounting the block or blocks upon a supporting body.

This and other objects will be seen in the following specification and claims in conjunction with the appended drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of one form of the present ornamental device.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan sectional view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a similar view on an enlarged scale showing a different form of block securing means.

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of a modified ornamental device.

FIG. 5 is a section taken on lines 5 5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a section taken on lines 6--6 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is similar to FIG. 5 showing a modified support bar.

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of a modification.

FIG. 9 is a section taken in the direction of arrows 9-9 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary section similar to FIG. 9, on an enlarged scale, showing a modified mounting.

FIG. l1 is a front elevational view of a modification.

FIG. 12 is a section taken on lines 12-12 of FIG. l1.

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary perspective view of another modification.

FIG. 14 is a plan View of still another modification.

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary plan view of a modification.

It will be understood that the above drawing illustrates several embodiments ofthe invention and that other embodiments are contemplated Within the scope of the claims hereafter set forth.

FIGS. 1 and 2 in the drawing show an ornamental device or an identification device upon which a series of blocks are removably mounted for giving information. Elongated rectangular body 11 is longitudinally slotted at 13-12 across its front face at a uniform depth defining a pair of opposed rails 12. A series of self-securing substantially rigid blocks 14 with letter or word indicia thereon are mounted side by side on the body in the said slot 12 and extend to its opposite ends.

Corresponding to each of the blocks in the body and formed within the inner opposing edges of rails 12 are opposed pairs of undercut slots 16 adapted to receive the opposed rigid projections 15 at the top and bottom edges of each of the respective blocks 14 for interlocking engagement therewith.

Body 11 is flexible,` could be made of a plastic material such as polyethylene or polystyrene, and capable of some bending by which a certain amount of flexing of rails 12 is required to facilitate the insertion of the blocks and their projections within the slotted portions of said body.

In FIG. 1 the end blocks 14 have integral therewith the apertured tongues or projections 17 to facilitate mounting to a chain 18 or the like if desired.

In the modification, FIG. 3, in place of rigid projections 15 there is provided a sleeve 19 centrally of each block and extending therethrough within which is nested Patented Aug. 15, 1967 ICC coiled spring 20 biasing at its outer ends the T-shaped buttons 21 which normally register within opposed undercut notches or slots 22 in the opposed edges of rails 12.

In FIG. 3 body 11 need not be flexible since projections 21 are retractable.

A modified -ornamental device is shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 wherein elongated body 23 of any suitable material such as plastic or the like has formed therethrough an elongated rectangular opening 24. A series of blocks 25 mounting indicia or plain at 25 are mounted on the body side by side in slot 24 and removably secured to the body. Elongated flexible bar 26, preferably rectangular in cross section, extends transversely through and retainingly en= gages each of the blocks in non-rotative relation.

The flexible end portions 27 of said bar extend outwardly of the blocks and are interlockingly nested in cor-- responding opposed undercut notches in the body adjacent opposite ends of slot 24.

The identification blocks carrying indicia or plain can be interchanged by snapping out the assembly which includes the blocks and the flexible m-ounting bar 26.

FIG. 7 shows a modification in the sense that mounting bar 32 is circular in cross section and extends transversely through corresponding aligned apertures in each of the blocks 31. In this case backing plate 29 is provided close to one side of body 28 apertured at 30 Vfor cooperative registry with blocks 31 retaining them against rotation.

A modification is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 wherein within the elongated rectangular opening 24 extending through body 23 there is provided a unitary block 33 having indicia thereon such as a name as at 34. The flexible support bar 26, of rectangular cross section as shown in FIG. 5, extends longitudinally through a correspondingly shaped opening in block 33. The ends of said bar interlockingly nest within corresponding opposed notches 27 at opposite ends of slot 24.

A modification is shown in FIG. l0 wherein the flexible bar 26 is eliminated and in its place the body 35 at opposite ends of the aperture therethrough have opposed inwardly directed ridges 36 which are cooperatively and retainingly received by the opposed grooves 37 at opposite ends of block 33.

A modification of the present identification device is shown in FIG. 11 wherein an apertured body is provided by a pair of spaced rails 39 defining inner edge portions 40 such as for a mailbox or for identification in an apartment or a dwelling. A series of blocks 41 mounting desired indicia are slidably positioned upon an elongated flexible support lbar 43 which here does not extend beyond the sides of the end blocks; but is primarily for support purposes and for maintaining the blocks 41 in assembled relation. In this case the opposed edges of blocks 41 are grooved at 42; and the grooves of the end blocks cooperatively register with the inner edges 40 of rails 39 completing the assembly shown in FIGS. l1 and 12.

In the modification in FIG. 13 rails 39 are spaced apart defining a pair of free edges 48 which are adapted to interlockingly nest within opposed end notches 47 formed in the elongated identification bar 46. This bar mounts indicia 46. Block 45 is of a suitable plastic material such as polyethylene or the like and has suflicient flexibility to permit slight flexing for mounting with respect to rails 39.

A variation of the present invention is shown in FIG. 14. The ornamental device or piece of jewelry incorporates a pair of coplanar mounting plates 49 which through suitable adhesive or cement are anchored to backing 50, which coul-d be a pin or other ornamental device. A series of blocks 51 mounting indicia are interposed lbetween the support .plates 49 and supported with respect thereto Iby the elongated flexible bar 52. The latter extends through corresponding apertures in aligned blocks 51 with its ends flexibly and removably interlocked within 3 corresponding undercut notches 53 in mounting plates 49.

The variation in FIG. l5 is the reverse of FIG. 10. Elongated flexible rectangular strip 57 mounting indicia is nested within body 54. Its end members S5 are undercut at 56 to interlockingly receive the ends 5S of said strip.

Having described my invention, reference should now be lhad to the following claims.

I claim:

1. An ornamental device comprising a body of flexible material, there being a longitudinal slot extending across its front face defining a pair of rails;

and a series of self-securing rigid rectangular blocks carrying indicia mounted in side lby side engagement on the body in and lling said slot; the top and bottom edges of said blocks snugly #bearing against said rails;

there being opposed pairs of undercut slots in the opposing edges of said rails;

and opposed projections on opposite sides of said blocks snapped into and interlockingly nested in said slots.

2. An ornamental device comprising an elongated body having an elongated slot therethrough;

a series of blocks carrying indicia mounted on the body side by side in said slot;

and an elongated exible bar extending transversely through and retainingly engaging said blocks, with the ends of said bar extending outwardly of the blocks and interlockingly nested in corresponding opposed undercut notches in said body adjacent opposite ends of said slot;

said bar being circular in cross section;

and a backing on one side of the Abody retaining said blocks against rotation.

3. An ornamental `device comprising an elongated body having an elongated slot therethrough;

an elongated block carrying indicia mounted on the body in said slot;

opposed elongated ridges on the body at the opposite ends of said block extending inwardly, the opposed edges ofthe said block being grooved and interlocked with said ridges.

4. In combination a body having an elongated opening defining opposed rails;

a series of blocks carrying indicia and having opposed grooves in their opposite edges, arranged side by side transversely of said opening, with the grooved portions of the end blocks retainingly receiving said rails;

and an elongated mounting bar extending through corresponding aligned slots in said blocks for holding the blocks in alignment.

5. An ornamental device comprising an elongated body having an elongated rectangular slot therethrough;

a series of rectangular blocks carrying indicia thereon mounted on the body side by side in and substantially filling said slot;

said blocks each having transverse aligned slots therethrough of rectangular cross section;

and an elongated bar of flexible material and similar cross section slidably extending transversely through said slots mounting said blocks;

with the ends of said bar extending outwardly of the end blocks, said bar being of such exibility that its ends are interlockingly nested in corresponding opposed undercut notches in said lbody adjacent opposite ends of said slot, said bar ends being suiciently exible as to snap within said notches.

References Cited EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner.

W. J. CONTRERAS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN ORNAMENTAL DEVICE COMPRISING A BODY OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL, THERE BEING A LONGITUDINAL SLOT EXTENDING ACROSS ITS FRONT FACE DEFINING A PAIR OF RAILS; AND A SERIES OF SELF-SECURING RIGID RECTANGULAR BLOCKS CARRYING INDICIA MOUNTED IN SIDE BY SIDE ENGAGEMENT ON THE BODY IN AND FILLING SAID SLOT; THE TOP AND BOTTOM EDGES OF SAID BLOCKS SNUGLY BEARING AGAINST SAID RAILS; THERE BEING OPPOSED PAIRS OF UNDERCUT SLOTS IN THE OPPOSING EDGES OF SAID RAILS; AND OPPOSING PROJECTIONS ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID BLOCKS SNAPPED INTO AND INTERLOCKINGLY NESTED IN SAID SLOTS. 